Apparatus for making inner tubes for tires.



H. DECH.

APPARMUS FOR MAKING INNER TUBES FOR TIRES.

APPLzcmon min Nov. 20. 191s.

1 ,270,604. Patented June 25. 1918.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

HENRY DECH, 0F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO MERCER TIRE COMPANY, 0F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOB MAKING INNER TUBES FOR TIRES.

Bpecincation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY DECH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Making Inner Tubes for Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacture of inner tubes of pneumatic vehicle tires, and more particularly to a core or mandrel for supporting the inner tube during the process of vulcanizetion.

The object of the invention is to provide means for the production of endless inner tubes ,having any desired reinforcement or thickness as to the tread portion or outer periphery thereof.

Another object consists in providing certain improvements in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts whereby the above mentioned and other advantages inherent in the structure may be effectively attained.

Up to the present time it has been the almost invariable custom to manufacture inner tubes for pneumatic vehicle lires on either straight or spiral cores or niandrels. The straight form has been in more common use and it is referred to in the industry as a pole. The tubes, after they have been formed on straight or spiral poles or cores, are, as is well understood, subjected to heat for the purpose of vulcanization.

These tubes are almost universally very thin and of a uniform thickness throughout. They are provided with a valve on the inner circumference. All this is well understood in the art. These inner tubes serve as airtight containers for the air which gives the tire its pneumatic character, and their rupture, either b direct puncture or abrasion, results in de ation of the tire as a whole. It has been found that one of the most frequent causes of defiation is the cracking or breaking of thejfabriewhich constitutes the inside of the-outer tire shoe or casing, which cracki or breaking raises a ridge which gradua y chafes through the comparatively thin inner tube.

Furthermore, any small sharp article which penetrates the outer shoe or casing of the tire rapidly wears through the tubes in common use; and if ,"evenma very hole is formed in the casing, the air pressure Withm the tire 'will force the wall of the inner tube therethrough and burst it.

Toobviate these disadvantages it has been f suggested to either reinforce the outer portion 0f the tube with metal, etc., or to make that portion of the tube relatively thick; but these suggestions have been found incapable of practical adoption owing to the restriions in the known apparatus for manufacturing the same. As will be readily seen, `if such a reinforced or thickened tube were made upon a straight pole, it would be very diiiicult to bringr it `into annular form, and also very difficult to tele- Scope the free ends and cement or otherwise Secure them for the purpose of rendering the tube air-tight. If such tubes are made on spiralc'ores or mandrels, the first objection is considerably overcome, but the latter still remains.

My invention overcome these diliculties, and enables the rapid and satisfactory manufacture of inner tubes which have their tread portions thickened or otherwise reinforced to any desired and practicably useful extent.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 represents a detail side view, partly in section; certain parts being shown in removed position in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged detail central section through the removable sections and adjacent parts of the core.

Fig. 3 represents a detail view, partly in section, looking at the inner periphery of one of the removable elements and adjacent parts of the core.

Fig. 4 represents a transverse section taken in the plane of the line IV-IV of Fi 2, looking inthe direction of the ari-ov s.

`ig. 5 represents a similar view taken in the plane of the line V-V of Fig.'2, look ing in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 represents a detail side view, partly in section. showin one manner of removing the finished tube the core, and

Fig. 7 represents a detail edge view partly in section, showin another way of removing the finished tu e from the core.

The core consists of three segments, which, when in abutting en agement, are adaptedto constitute an ann us circular in `portions 7.

(Spanner 18 is cross section. These segments are denoted by 1, 2 and 3, and are `preferably composed of metal, such as east iron 'or steel,` am hollow, with the. object ot' lightness. The segment 1 Vis by far the argest and constitutes more than `tl1rtazfonrtlis of a eirele. 1t is provided, at its extremities. with end pieees 4, 5, which have. laterally enlarged outer whirh constitute finishing.;r )lates for the ends "of the said ,seement l. `hese plate li, 7, lnay be rontposety ont steel in order .to withstand the wear otfrssembling and disasselnhling the votre; and the end pieces 4, 5, maybe suitably secured in position in any desired manner. as, for instance, by what is known as the sweating proces-i.

The segment 2 is much smaller than segment l, -and it alsois provided with end pieces 9, 10. For the purpose of stcurintr the segment 2 tothe segment 1, Vthe Vend piece. 1t.)v is provided with a stud 1 1 which protrndes therefrom and has an elongated head 12 tilted to pass through a similarhr shaped aperture 13 in the end'piere 5. when the segment :l is twisted out ol' the vplane of the segment 1. After the head 12 is thus passed through the aperture 13, ,the segment, 2 may be twisted bark into the plane of the segment 1, in whieh position the hearl 12 will lie athwart the aperture 125. as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. therelnv loching the. segmental and :l together.

The snnlllest segment, denoted by 3, is

formed so that. its ends` are substantially parallel or slightlsr ronrtwged ontwardlv to fat-ilitnte its insertion. in a radial dirertion. between the abutting portions ot' the segments 2 and 3. inforder to constitute the annulns, and its withdrawal from said posit ion for the vpurpose ol disassociatinar the elements. This segment has a pair ot' splines or keys 14, one of which is secured to each end thereof by suitable srrews 15. the said splines being fitted to slide in slots or key-V waysV 16, 17, formed in the plate t and end `pieee 9 respectively.

AS an additional means ol` sei-urine; the, segment 3 iuabntting engagement with respect to the other segments, l have. provided a spanner IS which lits in a longitudinal slot. or rec'ess fashioned inthe se,r|ncnt4 It. together with slots formed in the ends of the segments l. and which refister with the slot in. the segment il when tile. latter is inposition, as clearly shown in ltigs. 2 und Il. This spanner 1H has laterally extending tapered spikes l!) which closelrlit in corresponding holes in thc .seppur-nts l and :5, see Fig. it. will be noted that. when the formed home into hn'king cnungemein. with the segments l, L and4 25, it. is inah with thesurl'ares thereof.

l prefer vto construct. the segment l so that it. has slighttendeney to contraetor normally draw its` extremities towardeaeh other with the result that. at'ter the segment 2 has been locked in position as described, the Ysegment I will have to be forced outnardly in a radial direction with some degree ot' pressure. in order to slightly` spread apart the abutting portions of the core, thus insuring a tight lit. 'lhis not only makes the joints between the. several segments very line and smooth. thereby avoiding any. in jurions etl'ect upon o1"r the inner tube,but` it serves to aid in holding the segment 3 in operative position with respect to the remaining parts. A

In operation, the three segments are arranged in abutting engagement with eaoh other so as to constitute an annnlus, as hereinahove described; after which the inner tube. denoted by '20. is built or formed therejacent to the segment 3. the said 1t, which is denoted by 22. being of substantially the saine length as the Spanner 18, and preferably zigzag in Jr'."irm, as distinguished from a straight or plain slit.

'Through thisI slit, the spannen' 18 and segment 3 are withdrawn inwardly so as to sepznate them from the remaining parts of the1 core. The segment is then twisted out' of' the plane ofthe segment l, until the head 1'2 on the stud 11 coinrides with the aperture 13 in the end piece 5. This segment may then be withdrawn endwise through the slit. E22; after which the, tnbe Q0 may be slid ciretnnferentially ott' of the segment. l, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

If desired. ity is not 4neressnry to oompletely `remore the segment 2, but Vit may be only partially twisted ou its axis. as indicated in Fig. T. thuseausing,r that portion ofthe core constituted by the segments l and L), to assume somewhatthe forni. of a spiral. While. inrtliis position, the inner tube tl may he slid cirelnnlierentially ofi ol' tlu` segments l and 2. as is represented in Fig. 7. Thus. by either providingr a relatirel)F large openingr lit-tween `tht."`=ends yl `the .segment l, or lnin etl'ert. distorting the segments" l v`an`tl"..,`vinto 'the'.sha'pe ot' a spiral. l greatly l'arilitate the removal of the rultnnized tllhe. which. on accountl of its relatively great thirltness. particularly `ized. ity is slit alongY its inner periphery' ad- I hare .found in` plait-tice that this appathe contiguous portion ratus is easy to manipulate, sim le and efficient; and that it, in the han s of an ordinary skilled operative in this industry, enables the rapid manufacture of perfect endless inner tubes of relatively very great thickness or strength as to the tread portion.

After the tube has been removed from the core, the customary valve is inserted in the slot 22 which is covered and healed by the ordinary valve patch. Thus, in the operation of removing the endless tube from the mandrel, it is not necessary to make any incision therein which is not required in the regular manufacture of inner tubes for tires.

While I have'shown and described with detail a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the form, com osition, arrangement and construction o the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to limit myself to the details herein shown and described except as they may be specifically included in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A sectional core for the manufacture of inner tubes, com rising a large curved segment, a small cuiived segment radially removable, and an intermediate sized curved segment distortable-With respect to the large segment. n.

2. A sectional core for the manufacture of inner tubes, comprising a large curved segment, a small curved segment radially removable, and an intermediate sized curved Y segment distortable with respect to the large segment and removable therefrom.

3. A sectional core for the manufacture of inner tubes, comprising a large curved segment, a small curved segment radially movable, and an intermediate sized curved segment twistable upon its axis so as to distort it with respect to the large segment.

4. A sectional core for the manufacture of inner tubes, comprising a large curved ends tapered so as to permit it to be movable radially and inwardly,

6. A sectional core for the manufacture of inner tubes, comprising a large curved segment, a .small curved segment, an intermediate sized curved segment, said small segment being adapted to abut an end of each of the other segments, and having its ends tapered so as to permit it to be movable radially and inwardly, and means for locking the said small segment in abutting relationship with respect to the other segments.

7. A sectional core for the manufacture of inner tubes, comprising a large curved segment, a small curved segment, an intermediate sized curved segment, said small segment being adapted to abut an end of each of the other segments, and having its,

ends tapered so as to permit it to be movable radially and inwardly, a surface of said small segment and the adjacent portions of the other segments being fashioned to constitute a continuous groove, and means fitted to enter said groove for locking the three segments in abutting relationing at an angle from said grooves, and a Spanner having a body portion fitted to enter said roove and spikes ,fitted to enter said holes or locking the three segments in abutting relationship.

9. A sectional core for the manufacture of inner tubes, comprising a plurality of segments adapted when in abutting engagement to forman annlilus, one of said segments being provided with a lstud protruding from one end thereof and having an elongated head, another segment being provided with an endY wall having an elongated aperture therein fitted to receive the head of the `stud when the first mentioned segment is twisted on its axis so as to project laterally away .from the plane of the core as a Whole, wherby the said segment bearing the stud may 'rbc removed when in said twisted posit-ion and be locked to the other segment when both are lying in the same plane.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this 17th day of November, 1916.

HENRY DEUH. 

